Russia’s Putin rules out ceasefire with Ukraine during speech in Moscow | Russia-Ukraine war News
Putin Warns West on Nuclear Response Amid Intensifying Conflict with Ukraine
Moscow, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin has unequivocally dismissed the prospect of a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, as Moscow escalates its campaign of aerial assaults on Kyiv. Speaking at the Valdai Political Forum on Thursday, Putin characterized calls for a ceasefire in long-range strikes as “simply ridiculous.”
“We are told: ‘Let them stop striking your refineries, and you will stop striking their ships,’” Putin stated, highlighting the ongoing tension following a recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During that September encounter in New York, Zelenskyy offered to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries in exchange for a reciprocal cessation of strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Putin noted that Ukraine had “partially achieved its objectives” by targeting Russian oil facilities, which he claimed had cost Russia approximately 1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). However, he emphasized that Russia was now responding with increased long-range attacks, striking not only at Ukraine’s steel industry but also disrupting vital supply chains, particularly in the rail sector. Ukrainian officials allege that these assaults often target civilian infrastructure, contributing to a heightened state of alert in Kyiv as the region prepares for a challenging winter ahead.
On Thursday, a Russian drone struck a school in Kyiv, according to city officials. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as students and staff were in shelters during the drone’s impact.
Putin expressed a desire for a resolution to the conflict through diplomatic means and proposed that Ukraine should become a neutral state following the cessation of hostilities.
In a stark warning to the West, Putin addressed the situation concerning the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, situated between Poland and Lithuania. He indicated that any direct attacks on Russian territory, including Kaliningrad, would prompt Russia to consider deploying nuclear weapons. “If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation… the question of our deploying all the weapons at our country’s disposal will… be on the agenda,” he asserted.
Putin’s remarks came in the context of a diplomatic note that NATO disclosed it had received from Russia, cautioning the alliance against any actions perceived as threatening to the Baltic exclave. He cautioned that escalating international conflicts could lead to “dangerous scenarios” and a “fatal point of no return.”
In a potentially conciliatory note, Putin suggested that under favorable conditions, seized assets of Western companies could be returned. Last month, he ordered the nationalization of various businesses, including those belonging to Swiss food giant Nestlé and French retailer Auchan, among others.
